Pass the luxury SUV smell test. Literally.
The 2023 Range Rover is a feast for the senses. Words like “look,” “feel,” “sound,” and even “smell” are common in our SUV of the Year judges’ reviews. Land Rover’s attempt to bring the Range Rover to the stratosphere of super-luxury seems to have largely paid off.
It’s easy to think of the new Range Rover as a subtle redesign of an old classic, but the new Land Rover is the top model in the range and a major overhaul of the tried and true formula. There is a new modular architecture (a derivative of the base platform of the award-winning Land Rover Defender 2021 SUV), which in turn allows for more powertrain options, wheelbase length than any Range Rover of the past 54 years and seat configuration. The 2023 Range Rover will be available in standard and long-wheelbase versions, in two- or three-row, four-, five- and seven-seat configurations, with two powertrain options at launch (and an upcoming plug-in hybrid) and interior. There are more options for trim colors, materials and equipment than we can count.
While the Range Rover looks stately but reserved from the pavement, inside is a revelation. “This interior is fantastic,” said associate editor Alex Leanse. “Beautiful materials are everywhere; this door panel is sculptural and looks more like a work of art made of metal and leather. Even small touch points are handled brilliantly.”
Land Rover focused on simplifying the Range Rover’s interior, reducing buttons and moving many functions to the 13.1-inch infotainment display. Changes like this usually give us pause, but even this one feels taken into account. All essential functions are located on the left side of the display, so drivers need to place their right hand just inches from the steering wheel to tap the screen, while the display’s haptic feedback and subtle convex glass replicate the positive feedback of real buttons.
“It actually smells expensive here,” said associate editor Duncan Brady. That’s because it is. The Range Rover starts at $105,975 and goes up to $220,000, which is a low value for most buyers but attractive to those buying the new Rangie from Bentley, Maybach and Rolls-Royce.
The two powertrains available to test our SUV of the year at launch—Land Rover’s 395-horsepower 3.0-liter turbocharged and electrified I-6 and BMW’s 523-horsepower twin-turbo V-8—seem for the most part Value for money. Our SWB V-8-powered test car was well worth the I-6’s premium, with a wide torque curve and refined grunt as it worked through the wide-pitch gears of the standard eight-speed automatic transmission. That’s not to say the I-6 is a hole, but the judges missed the V-8’s added low-end torque and smooth top-end in our three-row LWB test car.
No matter which engine is used, the 2023 Range Rover drives on the road like you’d expect it to. “Just a lovely car,” said digital director Eric Johnson. “It has the traditional Range Rover chassis feel, from the plush ride to the soft but well-controlled body movements. The Range Rover is also great off-road. Detroit editor Alisa Priddle notes that after playing in sand It “really likes playing with the sand and letting it drift” after the ground mode, which has been revamped for the Middle East market. “The sand comes up the side and the rain falls on the windshield. Pure joy! “Drive (or ride) and you’ll be happy too.
Connor Mason is a passionate automotive journalist and the author behind the popular website motonews.info. With years of experience in the automotive industry, Connor is well-versed in all things related to cars and motorcycles.
